UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > FIA responds to FOTA letter

No nearer compromise

In a further progression of the current saga threatening Formula One, FIA President has replied to the previously reported letter from FOTA this morning. In his letter he states that he is not willing to back down on his insistence that the eight renegade FOTA aligned teams drop their conditions, and also refuses to extend the entry deadline to July 1st, as requested.

He agrees, however, with the suggestion that independent accountants would oversee the budget cap and, in fact, insists it was an FIA idea, and invites the teams to enter under the £40m budget cap with a view to it being raised once entry has been completed.

Among other things, this is likely to be a major sticking point for the FOTA contingent whose trust of the FIA is one area that is under dispute.
Interestingly, although Mosley declares there will be no ‘two tier’ regulations in 2010, he insists that Cosworth, the engine supplier for all of the new teams, will be permitted to run to 2006 regulations thanks to the timing involved.

Quite frankly, we do not understand why this should happen, and how it can not be construed as a two tier engine regulation in any way, shape or form.

Letters from and to the FIA and FOTA from respective parties can be reviewed here –

http://fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2009/Pages/fia_and_fota.aspx

It remains to be seen whether this is a step forward of any kind, and we have to remain doubtful.

Written: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:24:12